Shelbyville Times-Gazette: Story: Bondsman's action was legal: "A Shelbyville-based bail bondsman has not violated a state law against unprofessional conduct because the signs at his recently-opened office next to the Marshall County Jail are advertising, not solicitations.
That's the ruling from Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler who denied a motion from Assistant District Attorney General Eddie Barnard on Wednesday when the prosecutor cited a law defining unprofessional conduct by bail bondsmen as soliciting business directly or indirectly, by active or passive means.
Bail bondsmen found to have acted in an unprofessional manner may be stricken from a list of approved bonding companies, according to state law."
Friday, February 16, 2007
County limits a third of its bail bond companies
The Monitor - McAllen, Texas: "The sheriff’s department corrected the computer loophole in their bail bonds system this morning, effectively shutting down a third of the bondsmen in Hidalgo County.
“We just did it a little while ago,” said Cmdr. Danny Garcia of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department.
“They don’t really start bonding out until the afternoon time, so we wouldn’t have had any problems yet. I don’t think there will be.”
For years bail bonding companies have been operating under wildly inflated limits, allowing them to bond out an almost unlimited number of prisoners with limited collateral. County officials have attributed to the situation to a programming error made during former sheriff Enrique “Henry” Escalon’s administration.
Last week the Hidalgo County Bail Bonds Board voted to enter the companies’ correct limits, preventing any bondsman in debt to the county from bonding out any more prisoners.
According to sheriff’s department records, eight bail bondsmen are presently over their limits, in some cases by more than $1 million. Two bonding companies that were over Friday have since had their limits increased, presumably after providing the county with more collateral."
“We just did it a little while ago,” said Cmdr. Danny Garcia of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department.
“They don’t really start bonding out until the afternoon time, so we wouldn’t have had any problems yet. I don’t think there will be.”
For years bail bonding companies have been operating under wildly inflated limits, allowing them to bond out an almost unlimited number of prisoners with limited collateral. County officials have attributed to the situation to a programming error made during former sheriff Enrique “Henry” Escalon’s administration.
Last week the Hidalgo County Bail Bonds Board voted to enter the companies’ correct limits, preventing any bondsman in debt to the county from bonding out any more prisoners.
According to sheriff’s department records, eight bail bondsmen are presently over their limits, in some cases by more than $1 million. Two bonding companies that were over Friday have since had their limits increased, presumably after providing the county with more collateral."
Assault raises questions about freedom for accused rapist
Wtnh.com, Connecticut News and Weather - Assault raises questions about freedom for accused rapist: "State officials are investigating after a social services client out on bond for an alleged rape was accused of raping another woman.
Michael Quiles was charged with rape in December 2005, when he was still under state care.
A persistent public defender and a sympathetic bail commissioner talked a judge into releasing him back into a state program while his case was pending."
Michael Quiles was charged with rape in December 2005, when he was still under state care.
A persistent public defender and a sympathetic bail commissioner talked a judge into releasing him back into a state program while his case was pending."
Youthful lawyers hired in high-profile abduction case
Journal Gazette | 02/12/2007 | Youthful lawyers hired in high-profile abduction case: "The two young lawyers who have taken on the defense of alleged child abductor Michael Devlin are eager, but they’re being seen as underdogs in a costly and complex case.
Ethan Corlija, 32, and his 33-year-old law partner, Michael Kielty, are relatively unknown even within the clubby world of St. Louis lawyers.
“If you had said, ‘do I know these guys?’ I’d have said, ‘I have no clue,’ ” said Chet Pleban, who’s practiced criminal law in St. Louis for 33 years.
Some of the city’s leading criminal lawyers wonder whether they have sufficient experience and resources to mount a proper defense in a case where every legal step will be scrutinized."
Ethan Corlija, 32, and his 33-year-old law partner, Michael Kielty, are relatively unknown even within the clubby world of St. Louis lawyers.
“If you had said, ‘do I know these guys?’ I’d have said, ‘I have no clue,’ ” said Chet Pleban, who’s practiced criminal law in St. Louis for 33 years.
Some of the city’s leading criminal lawyers wonder whether they have sufficient experience and resources to mount a proper defense in a case where every legal step will be scrutinized."
At Libby’s Defense Table, a Tough but Deft Lawyer
At Libby’s Defense Table, a Tough but Deft Lawyer - New York Times: "One of Theodore V. Wells Jr.’s past clients slipped quietly into the courtroom recently to watch a day in the perjury trial of I. Lewis Libby Jr. Mike Espy, agriculture secretary under President Bill Clinton, sat watching Mr. Wells, whose defense of Mr. Espy against criminal charges that he had accepted illegal gifts ended in 1998 with a stunning verdict of not guilty on 30 counts."
The Espy case is one reason Mr. Wells is regarded as a celebrated defense lawyer with a reputation for a sure and supple touch with criminal juries. In that case, Mr. Wells prepared himself by asking Mr. Espy to move into his house in New Jersey, where, Mr. Espy recalled, for two months the two men talked “over and over about the facts of the case” until Mr. Espy felt that Mr. Wells had become his alter ego.
Reid Weingarten, another well-known criminal lawyer who shared the defense table with Mr. Wells in the Espy case, said: “The real truth about Ted is that it’s not about the flash, the geniality and the big smile. He is a prodigious worker. He loves facts. No one outworks him. No one.”
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Bail Bonds News Roundup, Feb. 8, 2007
Bail Bonds News Roundup, Feb. 8, 2007 - AboutBail.com Bail Bond Agent Directory: "Bail News Roundup - February 8, 2007
It was a busy week in the bail bondsmen and bounty hunter world this past week. News of arrests, lawsuit and even bizarre cases gave the staff at AboutBail.com plenty to discuss:
Bail Bondsman Can Legally Advertise
According to a news item in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette on Thursday, February 1, 2007, a Shelbyville bail bondsman has been allowed by a court to have signs at his offices. Assistant District Attorney General Eddie Barnard raised a motion that the signs near the Marshall County Jail were solicitations and so was violating a state law against unprofessional conduct. However, Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler denied the motion and instead ruled that the signs constituted advertisements.
Why Criminals Can’t Always Turn to Bail Bondsmen
According to an article that ran in a Bay Area newspaper on Wednesday, January 28, 2007, a bail bondsman in John Yonan, owner of Minuteman Bail Bonds in Tracy recently solved a crime – and turned down a request for a bail bondsman. Yonan had his car stolen and in the damaged vehicle that was eventually recovered he found a letter from the thief. Yonan’s sharp eye allowed police to track down the thief and arrest him..."
It was a busy week in the bail bondsmen and bounty hunter world this past week. News of arrests, lawsuit and even bizarre cases gave the staff at AboutBail.com plenty to discuss:
Bail Bondsman Can Legally Advertise
According to a news item in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette on Thursday, February 1, 2007, a Shelbyville bail bondsman has been allowed by a court to have signs at his offices. Assistant District Attorney General Eddie Barnard raised a motion that the signs near the Marshall County Jail were solicitations and so was violating a state law against unprofessional conduct. However, Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler denied the motion and instead ruled that the signs constituted advertisements.
Why Criminals Can’t Always Turn to Bail Bondsmen
According to an article that ran in a Bay Area newspaper on Wednesday, January 28, 2007, a bail bondsman in John Yonan, owner of Minuteman Bail Bonds in Tracy recently solved a crime – and turned down a request for a bail bondsman. Yonan had his car stolen and in the damaged vehicle that was eventually recovered he found a letter from the thief. Yonan’s sharp eye allowed police to track down the thief and arrest him..."
Monday, February 12, 2007
Bounty hunting a shaking and stirring business
The Breeze - Top Stories: "Doug Dunkle works a lot.
“I’ve got one of the worst jobs in the U.S., as far as I go,” Dunkle said.
Dunkle is the owner of 1-800-FOR-BAIL — a bonds business on Liberty Street, which operates 24 hours a day, and it’s not unusual for Dunkle to drive 200 miles a day on a case, looking for someone who might be delinquent on a bail payment. Currently, he’s been working on a case for three weeks, driving about 1,500 miles from Rockingham County, to Fairfax, to Winchester and out of state.
Dunkle said most people don’t realize bondsmen are licensed insurance agents first and foremost — they assess risk. However, bonds agents don’t assess the risk of the criminal, they instead determine the risk of the co-signer of the bond.
Different people present varying degrees of risk, and Dunkle said someone who has no ties to the community poses a higher risk of skipping town and dodging court than someone who does."
“I’ve got one of the worst jobs in the U.S., as far as I go,” Dunkle said.
Dunkle is the owner of 1-800-FOR-BAIL — a bonds business on Liberty Street, which operates 24 hours a day, and it’s not unusual for Dunkle to drive 200 miles a day on a case, looking for someone who might be delinquent on a bail payment. Currently, he’s been working on a case for three weeks, driving about 1,500 miles from Rockingham County, to Fairfax, to Winchester and out of state.
Dunkle said most people don’t realize bondsmen are licensed insurance agents first and foremost — they assess risk. However, bonds agents don’t assess the risk of the criminal, they instead determine the risk of the co-signer of the bond.
Different people present varying degrees of risk, and Dunkle said someone who has no ties to the community poses a higher risk of skipping town and dodging court than someone who does."
Friday, February 02, 2007
Mock Shooter Takes Waterman
Mock Shooter Takes Waterman - News: "Before students returned for the second semester, UVM Chief of Police Gary Margolis and University of Vermont Police services initiated an exercise to test the effectiveness of police services against a shooter on campus.
The exercise occurred Jan. 8 at the Waterman Administration building. Margolis brought relevant groups in, such as the Burlington Police Department and the Vermont State Police's Tactical Service Unit to assist in the exercise and gain training.
Exercises, such as the one held on Jan. 8, are planned and implemented to test the security and safety of the University of Vermont, and also to practice for crisis situations on campus.
'They are emergencies and crises because they are outside reality. You're never quite prepared, but I think we are as prepared as we can be. However, you're never quite sure who is going to show up,' said Margolis on the effectiveness of the exercise."
The exercise occurred Jan. 8 at the Waterman Administration building. Margolis brought relevant groups in, such as the Burlington Police Department and the Vermont State Police's Tactical Service Unit to assist in the exercise and gain training.
Exercises, such as the one held on Jan. 8, are planned and implemented to test the security and safety of the University of Vermont, and also to practice for crisis situations on campus.
'They are emergencies and crises because they are outside reality. You're never quite prepared, but I think we are as prepared as we can be. However, you're never quite sure who is going to show up,' said Margolis on the effectiveness of the exercise."
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Car Thief Calls Bail Bond Agent for Bail After Stealing Agent's Car
Car Thief Calls Bail Bond Agent for Bail After Stealing Agent's Car: "Funny things always seem to happen to people in the Bail Bond Business. John Yonan, a California licensed bail agent and owner of Minuteman Bail Bonds experienced this phenomenon first hand when his car was stolen.
Tracy, CA (PRWeb) January 26, 2007 -- John Yonan, a California licensed bail agent and owner of Minuteman Bail Bonds at www.minutemanbail.com, recently walked out to his driveway and discovered his late model, fire engine red Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T Turbo sports car was missing. He soon realized it had been stolen and called the local police (case #06-03804). The officer gathered information about the car, and Mr. Yonan was told that most stolen vehicles are recovered within a day or two. Sure enough, that same afternoon, the police called Mr. Yonan and informed him his car was recovered in Oakdale, CA about 45 miles away and that he could drive over to Oakdale and pick up his car.
The Oakdale police had the car towed to a local car dealer and after arriving at the dealer, Mr. Yonan inspected his vehicle. There was a lot of damage. Someone had quite a lot of fun speeding around in his car. There were dents, scratches, bald tires and he would soon realize the engine was rattling and may need to be replaced.
Tracy, CA (PRWeb) January 26, 2007 -- John Yonan, a California licensed bail agent and owner of Minuteman Bail Bonds at www.minutemanbail.com, recently walked out to his driveway and discovered his late model, fire engine red Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T Turbo sports car was missing. He soon realized it had been stolen and called the local police (case #06-03804). The officer gathered information about the car, and Mr. Yonan was told that most stolen vehicles are recovered within a day or two. Sure enough, that same afternoon, the police called Mr. Yonan and informed him his car was recovered in Oakdale, CA about 45 miles away and that he could drive over to Oakdale and pick up his car.
The Oakdale police had the car towed to a local car dealer and after arriving at the dealer, Mr. Yonan inspected his vehicle. There was a lot of damage. Someone had quite a lot of fun speeding around in his car. There were dents, scratches, bald tires and he would soon realize the engine was rattling and may need to be replaced.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Mother, daughter operate 2 Enid bail bonding businesses
The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK - Mother, daughter operate 2 Enid bail bonding businesses: "Earleen Judkins and her daughter, Rochelle Brinkman, are in a business that seems unusual for women. They operate a bail bonding business.
Judkins has been in the business for 11 years. She originally was a private investigator, and a friend who also was a private investigator suggested she try the bail bonding business to help support investigating. The bail bonding business now pays all the bills.
Brinkman was licensed in 1998 to help her mother and began coming to Enid helping with office work until her father became ill and she moved back to Enid to help care for him. Shortly after that, she began working full time.
They now own two separate businesses. Brinkman owns Ace Bail Bonds, and Judkins owns Action Bail Bonds. Brinkman currently is appealing the suspension of her license, because of a misinterpretation of the law governing bond agents.
Thirty years ago, a female bail bond agent was rare, but there now are more than 500 bail bond businesses in the state. Many women work in the business, Brinkman said."
Judkins has been in the business for 11 years. She originally was a private investigator, and a friend who also was a private investigator suggested she try the bail bonding business to help support investigating. The bail bonding business now pays all the bills.
Brinkman was licensed in 1998 to help her mother and began coming to Enid helping with office work until her father became ill and she moved back to Enid to help care for him. Shortly after that, she began working full time.
They now own two separate businesses. Brinkman owns Ace Bail Bonds, and Judkins owns Action Bail Bonds. Brinkman currently is appealing the suspension of her license, because of a misinterpretation of the law governing bond agents.
Thirty years ago, a female bail bond agent was rare, but there now are more than 500 bail bond businesses in the state. Many women work in the business, Brinkman said."
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